The Parihaka Woman

by Witi Ihimaera

Richly imaginative and original, weaving together fact and fiction, The Parihaka Woman sets the remarkable story of Erenora against the historical background of the turbulent and compelling events that occurred in Parihaka during the 1870s and 1880s.

Parihaka is the place Erenora calls home, a peaceful Taranaki settlement overcome by war and land confiscation. As her world is threatened, Erenora must find within herself the strength, courage and ingenuity to protect those whom she loves. And, like a Shakespearean heroine, she must change herself before she can take up her greatest challenge and save her exiled husband, Horitana.

The Parihaka Woman is a wonderfully surprising, inventive and deeply moving riff on fact and fiction, history and imagination from one of New Zealand's finest and most memorable storytellers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Indigenous, War, 19th Century, 21st Century

404 pages

First published October 7, 2011

About the author

Witi Ihimaera is a novelist and short story writer from New Zealand, perhaps the best-known Māori writer today. He is internationally famous for The Whale Rider.

Ihimaera lives in New Zealand and is of Māori descent and Anglo-Saxon descent through his father, Tom. He attended Church College of New Zealand in Temple View, Hamilton, New Zealand. He was the first Māori writer to publish both a novel and a book of short stories. He began to work as a diplomat at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1973, and served at various diplomatic posts in Canberra, New York, and Washington, D.C. Ihimaera remained at the Ministry until 1989, although his time there was broken by several fellowships at the University of Otago in 1975 and Victoria University of Wellington in 1982 (where he graduated with a BA).[1] In 1990, he took up a position at the University of Auckland, where he became Professor, and Distinguished Creative Fellow in Māori Literature. He retired from this position in 2010.

In 2004, his nephew Gary Christie Lewis married Lady Davina Windsor, becoming the first Māori to marry into the British Royal Family.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The promotional blurb says it all - There has never been a New Zealand novel quite like The Parihaka Woman. This was an odd sort of book. I don't think I would call it 'fiction', its really more like 'faction'.

Witi Ihimaera is a great writer, but he had a bit of professional bother back in 2009 when he was found to have plagiarised other writers in his novel The Trowenna Sea.

So how do you write a historical novel without running the risk of plagiarising anyone? You make the narrator of the novel tell the story in a semi-academic way so that you can include fully fledged quotations just like in a history book. It's a very odd technique that doesn't make for fluid reading.

Nevertheless, this book contains some of New Zealand's most fascinating early history, and that alone is reason enough to read it.

This is the story of colonialism and the collision of two cultures of unequal power. It is the story of Taranaki iwi and two of their leaders, Te Whiti and Tohu, who fought back against the land confiscations their people suffered at the hands of the government and settlers, by building their village of Parihaka, and carrying out a programme of passive resistance.

The history of Parihaka is told through the fictional story of Erenora and Horitana. We see how the Maori were hounded from their land, arrested and held without trial for long periods. Many of the prisoners were sent to prisons in the South Island, a long way from their family and their land. They were often treated badly in prison and it was many years before they were finally released, never having had a trial.

The fictional story of Horitana and Erenora and their evil nemesis Piharo, is really just a vehicle through which to impart the history. It is indeed an odd book, but I learned more about New Zealand's history from reading it than I ever learnt at school - and that is very sad.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a chapter in New Zealand's history which I am reasonably familiar and is the thread that weaves the cloth of my sense of 'homeland'. I am part of this history. My ancestors were the ones being allocated land that had been confiscated from the Maori. My mother's forefathers 'owned' prime land in Manaia just a little way around the mountain from Parihaka. My father's forebears won a plot of land in Mokauiti by ballet. Ihimaera did beautifully at recreating the hope and dreams of the people of Parihaka and the events that led to the creation of and necessity for a refuge in which to fight from. I loved Erenora, that warrior woman, willing to protect her family by whatever means possible. And was absolutely devastated anew by the unfair treatment of the people of Parihaka, indeed the people of Taranaki who were forced to create Parihaka on the back of years of persecution. And what a beautiful dream they had. In 2008 I went to the Parihaka International Peace Festival which was an amazing experience. They had speakers and music and a real spirit of inclusiveness. I am sorry that it didn't get off the ground financially and sincerely hope that it can find the financial backing that it needs. That place is a sacred place. It is palpable.

[Sweetp-1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrative style of this book is truly odd, and at times it does not make for a particularly reader-friendly book. Ihimaera has blended together fiction and fact - there is a narrator speaking directly to the reader (who mostly seemed superfluous) who is researching Parihaka as part of a whanau project after discovering the diary of Erenora - the Parihaka woman. So at times a chapter can start with some academic research , full quotations complete with footnotes, and then switch to a third person narrative from Erenora's viewpoint (the fictional part). I often found I would be immersed in Erenora's story only to be pulled out of it again by the narrator and another of his not-so-witty observations. As another reviewer has surmised perhaps this weird fiction+ fact style is due to the plagiarism debacle surrounding another of Ihimaera's books and his attempt to cover his butt this time. IDK, in any case I wish he had just kept with a pure fictional style as I found Erenora's story to be deeply moving and quite captivating. Parihaka has always interested me, and though I did find the way all the information was cobbled together a bit off putting, this book includes a lot of background historical and political scene setting that helps understand how the sacking of Parihaka came about. It is a truly shameful piece of New Zealand history and this book does a good job of conveying both the struggles of the Parihaka peoples and the epic journey of one woman to find her incarcerated husband.
I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of post-colonial New Zealand as Erenora travels from Taranaki to Te Wai Pounamu - the familiar scenery, landmarks and Kai Tahu whanau names gave it a sense of authenticity that really brought this part of the novel to life for me. I think perhaps after struggling with the Taranaki Maori dialect (written so the 'h' sound is missing...whare becomes w'are)it was a bit of relief for me to go home south ;)

Despite my gripes with easy of readability and the just weird style of it, this book was a touching and yet informative read and one I will remember for a long time, easy 4 stars.

""Enough is enough," Te Whiti continued. "We will run no longer. In peace shall we settle here, for good and forever, and we will call our new kainga Parihaka.""

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am deeply embarrassed that I know so little of my own countries history. I am of a generation where New Zealand history was colonial history and firmly on the side of white is right. My schools were in middle class white suburbs with very little diversity.

I have slowly shifted my thinking and understanding of how things were and are. So was looking for something to help me develop a greater knowledge. At this juncture I was specifically looking for what happened in the New Zealand land wars. I stumbled across this and thought it maybe a good starting point. And it was.

I have since read reviews of this book, some rather scathing, others definitely less than kind to Witi Ihimarea. This book follows a moment in his career where there was some plagiarism exposed and I believe this novel possibly suffers due to that. For me personally it was perfect. One reviewer said it was intended for the Y.A audience and if adults read it, they would be disappointed. I imagine he is right, however as an adult with juvenile understanding of the topic I found this book to be precisely what I needed. The starting point of a new journey. Looking back seems essential right now.

I enjoyed the explanation around Māori language dialects and some key information that I clearly should know but didn’t. The love story between Enenora and Horitana was the perfect backdrop to the melding of fact and fiction. I was able to enjoy a story while dipping in and out of google to find facts, people and actual happenings. Others have derided the narrative from the teacher/historian, again I found this useful as I have been able to search further to meet my needs. I am currently on holiday down in Port Chalmers and rode through central Otago several days ago and his narrative take on things gave me fresh eyes to see what I previously would have missed.

Yesterday I attended an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Dunedin showcasing Ralph Hotere’s work. Had it not been for this book it would not have been such a rich and emotive experience. Therefore despite the criticism and naysayers I appreciated the tone and simplicity of this book, grateful for all that they spurned.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Hello New Zealand 🇳🇿!! This was a very interesting book as it was written by a Maori (Native of New Zealand).

This tells the story actually from the author’s ancestors during colonial New Zealand in the 1870s/1880s when the Pakeha (White man) invaded Maori land - I attribute it to be similar to the European settlers and the Native Americans.

This novel also uses Maori words which as an individual not familiar at all with New Zealand history, found very interesting and informative. For instance, please find below a couple to give you a picture:

Kainga - Village

Aotearoa - Maori word for “New Zealand” - did you know it means “land of the long white cloud” in Maori?

I won’t ruin this novel but it is interesting because it appears to be a different kind of historical fiction as it’s a combination of fiction and non fiction. I will leave this with you, but New Zealand, I am very interested in returning to your country hopefully in person one day but until then in another historical fiction novel. And Australia, you have fierce competition!

[Aliarne Lobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the audiobook soooo much, like a bedtime story 💞

[Kaila Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE PARIHAKA WOMAN is my first delve into Witi Ihimaera's writing and this was potentially a strange place to start, as Ihimaera blends historical fact with fiction, moving between the journals of Erenora, the fictive and titular Parihaka Woman, and the first person perspective of one of her descendants, who has taken it upon himself to tell her story through her recently discovered journals. I can see the switch being a little jarring for some readers, but being a big history nerd I really appreciated the statistics and deeper background to gain a sense of the wider picture of what was happening in Taranaki during the 1870s/80s. I found it a really engaging way to delve into the events at Parihaka and gave Erenora's tale a deeper sense of meaning. It also meant that the fictive narrative (in the sense of Erenora being a fictional character, in the midst of real historical figures such as Te Whiti and Tohu, the spiritual leaders at Parihaka) packed an intense emotional punch, through the juxtaposition of the frank tone throughout the historical fact and the emotional undercurrents of Erenora's journals. I was on the verge of tears a few times, particularly during the Pākehā invasion of Parihaka on 5 November 1881, but there is also a warm sense of humour that mixes with the sorrow and pervades the text as it describes the resistance of Parihaka's people leading up to that day.

I loved this; I think it's a real taonga, but I think it would definitely help to treat it less as a fully fictional novel and more of a means to help people more fully understand the events that occurred in Taranaki, particularly from the perspective of tangata whenua.

[RobdawgReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witi Ihimaera's The Parihaka Woman represents an significant piece of Māori and New Zealand history and literature. Ihimaera writes a fictional story of love and loyalty nested into the folds of important, factual historic events surrounding the pacifist Māori settlement at Parihaka in Taranaki. In the late 1800s, European land-grabbers and the implemented British legal system perpetrated several injustices against the Parihaka Māori. This segment of New Zealand history is not taught to the general NZ population, providing more credence to the saying "history is written by the victors". The story of Erenora and the Parihaka people is powerful and deeply moving. I highly recommend.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing style made this hard to get into at first because I was a little confused by whose perspective I was reading. However, this was one of the best stories I’ve read in a while which did a great job at blending fiction and non-fiction. I do wonder how people unfamiliar with NZ would get on with this book as there is a lot of NZ history and Maori culture weaved in. I am certain to read more of Ihimaera’s work!!

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a interesting book. It was a bit slow in parts but overall very interesting

[Jessica Dunbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah! A beautifully written story. Loved it. This is one of the best stories I've read in a long time. The characters were wonderful, the language was so descriptive. The history was eye opening.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a lot more out of this book than the star review might indicate. It is exactly the kind of dense historical novel that leaves the reader both more informed and wiser: a retelling that invokes the head a lot, but calls on the heart as well. Ihimaera's research - and he carefully quotes the historians whose work he uses - is thorough, and largely the point of the book. He wants, and succeeds mostly, to make the reader feel as if they were there. Through this, he brings to life a grand experiment in non-violent resistance and builds an understanding of the Maori-Pakeha Wars and their aftermath. I find it very easy to learn from narratives like this one. I've always had a poor memory for dates, proper nouns, and numbers, so having a sequence of events brought to life simply makes it easier to understand, and from there to remember, what was done when by whom to who. As a crash course in the Maori resistance of the late 1800s, it was excellent.
The most evocative parts of the book were the descriptions of life inside Parihaka, the sense of both rhythm and change. The view of the cities and towns visited were also a highlight, particularly drawing out both the commonality of war, and the impact that differing perspectives of differing officials. As a topic, this was a wonderful one. A defined community, and incident, in a long war which is both incredibly inspirational and very sobering. Of the whole, but extraordinary too.
However, as a story, I struggled hugely to marry the melodrama - not realistic - with the realism. Understanding, at the end of the book, that this was originally an opera - and one based on Fidelio. It would have helped knowing this going in, but even then, the two tones just sat very uncomfortably for me. The problem is, if the power of the book is to invoke a sense of historic injustice, that is crucially undermined when much of the narrative is unrealistic and exaggerated. I'll admit to an inherent dislike of melodramatic plot, and the latter half of the book started to drive me nuts.In addition to undermining the research and realism of the book, it also posed an uneasy tension between a book which uses individual experiences to illuminate collective ones - Parihaka was an exercise in communal living and decision making, and the various bureaucrats and settlers are also acting from a position of social power - and a story about evil, good and damaged people's decisions driving the plot. Maybe in a different book, the relationships between four people on an island - the high tension of the book - would be a way of illuminated New Zealand's historic battle over land, but instead it just feels like a different story altogether, one taking place a world away from the colonisation.
So I'm left feeling pretty ambivalent about this one: the bits that I liked, I loved; the bits that I didn't, I hated. It hasn't put me off reading more of Ihimaera's work, but I'll probably make sure operas aren't mentioned next time.

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an OK read. I felt the book was not particularly easy to read - loads of historical background to get through and the way the author chose to narrate the book seemed pointless and frustrating.
Also the main character was too flawless - to the point of being un-human or saintly. To me it lacked credibility.
Having said that, once the book got going in the last half, it was a readable and enjoyable story.
Plus, it is a very important story to be told so I was pleased that I read it.... and saw things from another perspective.

[Suzesmum · Rating 4 out of 5]

26🎧🇳🇿NEW ZEALAND 🇳🇿Another classic from the master storyteller Witi Ihimaera, this is a true romantic odyssey that weaves fact and fiction. Set in the 1870s against the backdrop of the New Zealand Wars, as the Maori desperately fought to save their land from occupation and confiscation by the European settlers, it centres around Erenora and her two sisters, who travel the length of the country to find her incarcerated husband, Horitana. The story is told by two alternating narrators - Erenoa herself and a modern day history teacher, and is a clever device that supports both the story and the historical accuracy. Absolutely brilliant! #🌏📚#readingworldtour2021 #worldliterature #readingworldliterature #reading #austlit #readingwomenchallenge #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #bookstagram #booklover #book #booknerd #bibliophile #travel #travelogue #fiction #nonfiction #nonfictionreads #travelbooks #ayearofreadingaroundtheworld #newzealandliterature #maoriliterature #witiihimaera

[Tane · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of Parihaka is a very, very powerful one, which could make for a great novel. Unfortunately this isn't it.
I read for 100 pages then put it down. The author has chosen an odd structure, with a present day teacher telling us the history and a woman involved in the creation of Parihaka telling her story. It would be much better if hers was the only point of view, as the historian's grumpy lectures mean there's a lot of telling that would be better as showing.
The writing is mostly fine, but there is the odd horribly overwritten line, like: "It would be even nicer if your lovely hands would tip the calabash so that the sweet water can pour between my waiting and eager lips".
The characters seem OK, but just before I gave up a very cliched villain was introduced (sneering English aristocrat, horrible scars).
Maybe it gets better after I stopped, but life's too short to plow through mediocre books.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot while reading this book - the interweaving of historical events and figures with fiction was refreshing, interesting and while sometimes challenging, highly original. I particularly liked the links to other works such as Fidelio, Twelfth Night, and The Man in the Iron Mask. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it.

I didn’t know much about this period of New Zealand history before I started reading, but am now inspired to look into it further. It’s heartbreaking and fascinating.

[Joanna Laing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t really articulate why I enjoyed this book so much but enjoy it I did. It’s a beautiful love story and also an important insight into the history of New Zealand. Written in such an evocative way; I could absolutely picture what was happening throughout the story.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This engaging historical novel is based on the real events in Parihaka, a Maori village in New Zealand, during the late 19th century. When colonialists, mostly British, arrived in the 1840s Maori communities in the Taranaki district sold them land for farming. As we have seen so often the colonialists weren't satisfied with what local communities were willing to sell and set about seizing it by force. Parihaka became known for it's peaceful resistance to forced takeover.

Parihaka Woman tells that story through the life of Erenora, who survived the bombing of her birthplace and ended up settling in Parihaka, a community established and built by other Maoris who had been driven out of their homes by British forces. The frame story of the novel is that retired high school history teacher has found her account of events in the Anglican Church archives and is translating it. The result is an historical novel very much based on facts of history which uses the novel form and the invented characters of Erenora and her husband Horitana to bring the remarkable history of Parihaka, its growth and its end, to vivid page-turning life.

Parihaka grew because it was a place of sanctuary for dispossessed Māori. It's success in developing as a community with farms, businesses, banks etc. was seen as a threat to the power of the settlers. It's policy of non-violent resistance carried out in many inventive ways worked for a while but may Parihakans ended up in jail without trial for long periods.

This is a wonderfully engrossing read and an eye-opening piece of literature for anyone who thought they knew about the settling of New Zealand or indeed for anyone who has never given it a thought, like me. Author Witi Ihimaera, best known for "The Whale Rider", is renowned for his work putting the story and culture of the Maori into literature.

[Sheila Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel ashamed that I know so little about NZ history. This book was an excellent and gripping historical novel that revealed the unjust and tyrannical treatment the British settlers heaped upon the Maori population in Taranaki. The peaceful resistance of the people of Parihaka is a part of NZ history we should celebrate and learn from. I have heard it suggested that instead of Guy Fawkes day we should have Parihaka day. An excellent idea in my view. Another inspiring aspect of this book was its focus on the courage of women. While the key character (Erenora) is fictional she represents so many amazing women. Imagine traveling from Taranaki to Dunedin in the 1860's with no idea of how you would get from one place to the next!

[Pip · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book of two halves. The first part was build up and the land protests at Parihaka in the late 1870s. The second half was about the heroine travelling across NZ to try to find her husband who had been imprisioned. I think that Witi Ihimaera tried to be a little clever in the combination of fact and fiction, and the voice of the narrator seemed unecessary. But he does know how to pull threads of a story together into shape, and the story mostly enhances the history. I am fascinated by Parihaka anyway.

[Kiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely blown away by this book. Thanks to Joni for lending it to me! Seeing as I am calling Taranaki home at the moment, it was really important that I read this book. One of those harrowing but ultimately inspiring books of the capabilities man has to be cruel to one another. Erenora is a phenomenal woman and the clever way of mixing history, journalism and her narrative was quite a written achievement. Brilliant book.

[Briar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combines history with fiction in an interesting way, with a strong female main character. An important revelation for all New Zealanders of the injustices in the way land was stolen from Maori by the government of the day

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been fascinated with Parihaka and Te Whiti's peaceful protest for a long time. It has been difficult to find information on this subject. Thank you Witi for fleshing this out with thorough research and sensitivity

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptional account of the history of the Taranaki area in New Zealand, and the really turbulent times in the 1880s.

[Becks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great look at Taranaki's history and lovely retelling of it. Erenora is an amazing, humble woman and her character completely hooked me in ;-)

[Sian Foan]

Having read some mixed reviews before I read this, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was a great way to learn about this important event in NZ history and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Joanne Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great historical novel. I was every interested in the facts and read all the references. A book for all NZ'ers. I look forward to the movie.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. A story of love and the amazing strength of maori women and an insight into Parihaka. A must read!!

[Serendipity · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Parihaka Woman is a set against the backdrop of an infamous incident in New Zealand’s race relations history. In the late 1870s and early 1880s the Māori settlement of Parihaka was involved in a campaign of non-violent resistance to European occupation of confiscated land. The government retaliated with military force, mass arrests, imprisonment without trial, looting, and destruction of much of the village.

This book tells the story of a history teacher, uncovering the story of his ancestors, Erenora and Horitana, Parihaka residents and protestors, by translating her journal. This setup seemed convoluted and clunky to me.

The novel itself was very much a story of two halves. The first half concentrated on the people of Parihaka and their conflict with the colonial government. In many ways it read like an academic article and it was full of quotes and footnotes. To me the history interrupted the flow of the story and felt a little odd. Then I remembered that the author’s previous historical novel had been at the centre of a plagiarism controversy and suspect the structure of this part of the novel was a reaction to that.

After several years many of the imprisoned men were released and returned to Parihaka but Horitana was not among them. Erenora travelled in search of him, disguising herself as a man for safety reasons. She reluctantly allowed her sisters, who were also seeking their husbands, to accompany her and they travelled first to Wellington and then to the South Island. After her sisters found their husbands Erenora continued alone, eventually discovering the terrible revenge wreaked upon Horitana, by a vindictive, evil-minded settler. This part of the book flowed much better. Since it was more fiction than history the author’s imagination was freer and the intrusions of academic history and the fictional history teacher far fewer.

While I had some issues with the structure and style I loved the character of Erenora, a brave and determined woman committed to her quest, which was a compelling one. Rocco and his daughter were intriguing characters, contributing to an interesting subplot. And Piharo made for a memorable villain.
I especially loved that this novel shone a spotlight on an incident in our history that some would prefer to forget or gloss over. It’s only when many people know and understand our true history - the good, the bad and the ugly- that we will be move forward, creating a more equitable society for all.

I’m glad I finally read this book, even if I did have some quibbles.

[Dafydd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of Māori and the colonial history of New Zealand. For anyone thinking that NZ is a liberal oasis built on the best history of race relations of any colony from the European colonisation period, did you know:

- Abortion is illegal in NZ
- Homosexuality was illegal until 1986
- Te Reo Māori was not an official languge until 1987
- Until 1986 the scared Mount Taranaki could only officially be referred to as Mount Egmont.

The first two facts point to the surprisingly recent liberalisation of basic human rights in NZ. The second two indicate the main target for the social repression suggested by the first two. The indigenous Māori peoples of pre-colonial Aotearoa.

Why am I pointing this out? Because NZ is not the paragon some would like to think of it as. This novel bravely and imaginatively lifts the lid on the infuriatingly unjust history of the Parihaka settlment, set up as peaceful non-violent indigenous utopia in the face of illegal land confiscations by the British Crown in the 1860s, and violently, remorcelessly and murderously liquidated by British soliders and mercenaries in the 1870s. The captured men of Parihaka were either summarily executed or, through the introduction of draconian no-trial detention laws passed specifically for this aim, were cast into jails across the Southern island of New Zealand and left to rot. The last of these Parihaka prisoners to return home - detained without trial remember - came home 19 years after they were first arrested.

Ihimaere grafts onto this historical backdrop a re-working of Dumas' man in the iron mask, at once invoking and critiquing the C19th adventure romance genre. There have been criticisms (NZ Herald) of the use of a 'real' narrator and the blending of history and fiction. But this is to miss the point of the book. What happened to Parihaka was NOT romance; it was cold-blooded colonial genocide, and the subversion and assimilation of Dumas' romance trope ties in with the book's closing message about forgivness, forbearnace and survival.